Chapter 777: Birthday Banquet (Part 4)
Is there any way to make an outlier appear less conspicuous in the public eye?
There may be many answers, but the emergence of more outliers is definitely one of them.
Just after Sun Shaozong was summoned alone and left safely, some utilitarian officials at the table had already planned to establish a relationship with this young talent - the reason why they deliberately ignored Sun Shaozong just now was also because they were afraid of being implicated.
Therefore, when an even more unusual person appeared at the birthday banquet, he was immediately regarded as an ally who shared the same hatred and enemy by the "gentlemen" at the banquet.
And this so-called more alien existence is actually a group of Taoists and alchemists.
Although long before the emperor favored alchemists, there were already many monks and Taoists entering and leaving the palace and becoming guests of the emperor.
But in such a formal occasion, the alchemists appeared openly and were even ranked above the ministers, which made it difficult for the civil and military officials to accept.
Especially for some moral gentlemen who were former censors, it was even more difficult for them to accept this scene, and they could not help but start to mutter, "What a pity that the table is empty in the middle of the night."
Tsk~
Today is Emperor Guangde's 55th birthday. It would be really fun if we staged a scene where he 'scolded the emperor directly to his face'.
With a gloating thought in his mind, Sun Shaozong echoed a few words of the condemnation and concern of his colleagues around him, and then looked at those Taoists and alchemists with interest.
You know what, there are actually two familiar faces here.
They were all wizards who were invited by Rongguo Mansion to "subdue demons and exorcise evil spirits" when Jia Baoyu was poisoned and went mad.
Compared with three years ago, these two have become more sage-like. Even when being pointed at by hundreds of nobles in the square, they remain calm and composed.
However, the most eye-catching thing is the middle-aged sorcerer at the top who is wearing thin clothes and has his chest and abdomen exposed.
According to what others say, this person is the most popular Taoist master Miaoyi - this Taoist name sounds very familiar, but as to whether his real name is Qi Shuming, no one knows.
It is said that this Miaoyi Zhenren has already cultivated the ability to be immune to cold and heat, and invulnerable to swords and guns. Therefore, in the early winter when he was naked, he was still able to chat and laugh without any sign of strain.
I don't know what the result will be if I go up and punch him.
Sun Shaozong was looking at Miaoyi Zhenren's chest with malicious intent when he suddenly saw the chief eunuch Qiu Shi'an holding a whisk and walking to the throne in the center, shouting in a rhythmic voice: "Your Majesty, please come to the Hall of Supreme Harmony!"
Hula~
Regardless of whether they were filled with righteous indignation just now or were indifferent, they all hurriedly stood up from their seats and bowed to line up in front of the banquet.
Then four princes were seen leading the way, followed by the ministers and royal relatives, who stood in front of the two rows of teams respectively.
Only then did the emperor's dragon sedan stop at the edge of the square, and then, surrounded by a dozen eunuchs, he slowly walked up the steps and sat in the center.
"Li~!"
Following Qiu Shian's shout, the twelve imperial guards swung their whips swiftly.
At one time, countless people inside and outside the square, on both sides of the corridor, in front of and behind the stage, knelt down and shouted: Long live the emperor!
"Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, long, long live the emperor."
In fact, there is no need to shout "Long live the emperor" three times on normal days, but today is the emperor's birthday banquet, so we should say something that the emperor likes to hear.
And the emperor did not speak personally next, saying anything like "My Lords, please stand up."
With just one more whip crack, everyone stood up consciously and prepared to listen to the Hadith.
However, the emperor did not start a long speech immediately. Instead, he looked around and asked, "Where is the prince?"
Deputy Chief Zhou Wuyou hurried forward to report: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has gone to Kunning Palace to greet the Queen."
In addition to the ministers, there were also women of the second rank and above in the capital who entered the palace to celebrate the birthday.
According to convention, the Empress would be responsible for receiving these people first. After dealing with the initial situation, the elders of the Zong family would take over and take care of them, so that the Empress could free up to dine with the Emperor.
And looking at the empty seats on the left and right, I'm afraid that Jia Yuanchun will be among those responsible for receiving the ladies of honor this time.
Although this practice is within the scope of etiquette and law, Sun Shaozong believes that it is absurd.
Even if you really want to replace the crown prince, you should wait until the child is born and shows signs of growing strong and healthy, right?
Just because of the nonsense of a few sorcerers, Jia Yuanchun is praised so much. Isn't it obvious that he wants to cause unrest in the harem?
However, this doubt was resolved to a certain extent after hearing Emperor Guangde's instructions.
The emperor is really old.
His body doesn't seem to be very healthy.
Although his voice was quite loud, he couldn't hide the shortness of breath at the end of each sentence.
According to Sun Shaozong's private speculation, this was probably due to excessive fatigue, which drained his body - the sowing project in Jingren Palace lasted for two full years.
The emperor himself probably realized this, which is why he favored alchemists and sought immortality in recent years; that is why he seemed so anxious now, not caring how true or false the sorcerers' words were, and was busy paving the way for the fetus in Jia Yuanchun's belly.
If Jia Yuanchun gave birth to a daughter...
Thinking of this, Sun Shaozong's gaze quietly moved to the end of the team, where a handsome young man in casual clothes was standing there in a daze.
I really don’t know whether this incident is a blessing or a curse for the Rongguo Mansion.
…
"Today, let's not talk about state affairs, but love and pleasure. You may as well drink to your heart's content and have fun with me!"
However, just when Sun Shaozong was absent-minded, the emperor's instructions came to an end.
"Take your seat~!"
As Qiu Shian shouted in a rhythmic voice for the third time, everyone bowed and took their seats.
Soon after, countless palace maids came out from both sides, removed the dried fruits and snacks on the table, and replaced them with delicious dishes.
At the same time, music started playing on the stage, and dozens of dancers with wide sleeves and fluttering clothes emerged from behind the stage, swaying in the wind like willows in the center of the banquet, and then divided into three parts: front, middle and back, and danced to the music.
This dance is of course excellent.
But since I traveled through time, I have seen more dance than in my previous life, and I am really aesthetically fatigued.
If it were midsummer, Sun Shaozong might even take a closer look at it.
As for now...
It’s better to fill your stomach first.
Therefore, Sun Shaozong didn't care what others thought and just picked up the cheap ones and gobbled them up.
Of course, this was the emperor's birthday banquet after all, so the eating manners were somewhat restrained than at home.
But at this moment.
A sedan chair carried by two people suddenly came out from behind the stage, and sitting cross-legged on it was a tiny child !
